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Mike Mayock 2017 mock draft: Atlanta Falcons make the unpopular pick

Jabrill Peppers, seriously?

By Dave Choate
NFL Combine - Day 6 Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images

Mike Mayock only lands one mock draft per year, unlike Mel Kiper and Todd McShay, who develop new ones as fast as their cramped fingers will allow. That means Mayock has had all year to think about the choices he’s going to make for every NFL team, and deliver a mock that is both sage and beyond reproach.

You will not be surprised to learn that I do not like his choice for the Atlanta Falcons all that much. Here’s the full Mayock mock:

  1. Cleveland Browns - Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M
  2. San Francisco 49ers - Jamal Adams, S, LSU
  3. Chicago Bears - Marshon Lattimore, CB, Ohio State
  4. Jacksonville Jaguars - Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU
  5. Cleveland Browns - Mitch Trubisky, QB, North Carolina (Trade with Tennessee Titans)
  6. New York Jets - O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama
  7. Los Angeles Chargers - Solomon Thomas, DE Stanford
  8. Carolina Panthers - Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford
  9. Cincinnati Bengals - Jonathan Allen, DL, Alabama
  10. Buffalo Bills - Reuben Foster, LB, Alabama
  11. New Orleans Saints - Charles Harris, Edge, Missouri
  12. Tennessee Titans - John Ross, WR, Washington
  13. Arizona Cardinals - Marlon Humphrey, CB, Alabama
  14. Philadelphia Eagles - Mike Williams, WR, Clemson
  15. Indianapolis Colts - Derek Barnett, Edge, Tennessee
  16. Baltimore Ravens - Haason Reddick, LB, Temple
  17. Washington Redskins - Takkarist McKinley, LB, UCLA
  18. Tennessee Titans - Adoree’ Jackson, CB, USC
  19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Malik Hooker, S, Ohio State
  20. Denver Broncos - Ryan Ramczyk, LT, Wisconsin
  21. Detroit Lions - Corey Davis, WR, Western Michigan
  22. Miami Dolphins - T.J. Watt, DE, Wisconsin
  23. New York Giants - Garett Bolles, OT, Utah
  24. Oakland Raiders - Cam Robinson, OL, Alabama
  25. Houston Texans - Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson
  26. Seattle Seahawks - Forrest Lamp, OL, Western Kentucky
  27. Kansas City Chiefs - Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State
  28. Dallas Cowboys - Tre’Davious White, CB, LSU
  29. Green Bay Packers - Alvin Kamara, RB, Tennessee
  30. Pittsburgh Steelers - Jordan Willis, Edge, Kansas State
  31. Atlanta Falcons - Jabrill Peppers, S, Michigan
  32. Arizona Cardinals via New Orleans Saints - Patrick Mahomes, QB, Texas Tech

And here’s why he selected Peppers for Atlanta:

With the ball in his hands, Peppers is special. He'll be a core special teams player. He can play strong safety and nickel. He fits what Dan Quinn wants on defense with quickness and toughness.

I strongly question whether Peppers will go in the first round thanks to the Case of the Diluted Pee, and I also strongly question whether he’d end up in Atlanta. The Falcons could very obviously covet him for his ball skills, versatility, and talent, but it seems more likely to me that they’d chase a safety like Budda Baker, a pass rusher, or a guard before Peppers. Maybe I’ll wind up eating those words, but I’d bet against it.

What say you?

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